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Mail-in ballot results expected Friday in Kansas primary elections

Posted at 7:32 AM, Aug 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-10 17:20:33-04

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — Roughly 5,000 mail-in ballots will be tabulated in Johnson County Friday.

The results from the mail-in ballots will be released beginning at 8 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m.

The ballots could widen the margin between the two leading Republican primary candidates for governor: Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Gov. Jeff Colyer.

When polls closed on Tuesday, slow reporting in Johnson County delayed results. Once the numbers came out the following morning, Kobach led by fewer than 200 votes.

Since then, the numbers have been contested, but a 41 Action News county-by-county tally shows Kobach still in the lead.

The Secretary of State’s office said it should have all the advance ballots that were mailed in, and any other unofficial election results that were not previously reported on election day.

Provisional ballots will be reviewed and counted next week by individual counties. They must certify the results between Monday, Aug. 13 and Monday, Aug. 20.

Johnson County Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker said in a statement that the Board of Canvassers will be reviewing the provisional ballots starting 9 a.m. Monday, the results will be posted on the Johnson County Election website and given to the Kansas Secretary of State.

Colyer has asked Kobach to recuse himself from giving local election officials advice. On Friday, Kobach agreed and handed his duties over to the Assistant Secretary of State. Colyer has asked he hand over his responsibilities to the Kansas Attorney General instead.